During 14-17 September 2009, the General Inspector of Romanian Border Police, police principal quaestor PhD. Nelu POP, is carrying out an official visit in Turkey, Ankara and Istanbul, to participate at a meeting with his counterpart, the commander of the Turkish Coast Guard, rear admiral Izzet ARTUNÇ.
The visit is developing within the members' reunion of the Romanian Border Police Mixed Committee - Turkish Coast Guard, for 2009.
On the occasion of the first official meeting, which took place on 14.09.2009, between the chief of the Romanian delegation, principal quaestor Nelu POP and rear admiral Izzet ARTUNÇ, a series of measures that must be taken for a more efficient cooperation in the fight against illegal activities, especially trafficking with drugs, immigrants and smuggling were established.
Thus, the necessary methods were identified to realize a permanent information exchange regarding the organized crime cases at the Black Sea (detained persons and smuggling) and referring to the ships detained in both countries, for carrying out illegal activities.
On this occasion, the Romanian party presented to the Turkish authorities the development of the organizational structure of the General Inspectorate of Border Police up to the accession to the European Union, the activities carried out and the current situation, being offered data on the changing of the R.B.P. duties after E.U. accession and the new methods of integrated management of border security under FRONTEX Agency coordination.
Also, principal quaestor Nelu POP presented the Integrated System for Observance, Surveillance and Control of Traffic at the Black Sea (SCOMAR), system which was initiated by the Romanian Border Police during April 2009 and whose main objectives are: observance, border surveillance and Romanian border check at Black Sea.
At the end of the meeting, the measures comprised in the annual action plan between Romanian Border Police and Turkish Coast Guard for 2010 were established, in which several exercises for search and rescue at sea, check of a ship under foreign flag, for countering cross-border crime, as well as documentation visits, for experience exchange in the field of maritime border check and surveillance management at the Black Sea were proposed.
The meeting evinces the willingness of both countries to carry on and intensify the collaboration relations between the border authorities from Romania and Turkey and also to act for preventing and countering crime at Black Sea, in perspective of Romania's accession to Schengen area and Turkey's accession to the European Union.